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as an upstart usurper and advised rejection of any friendly proposals from him。
Then Jiang Wan said； 〃We should get the opinion of Zhuge Liang。〃
So they sent and put the matter before the Prime Minister。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃Send an envoy with presents and felicitations and ask Sun Quan to send Lu Xun against Wei。 Then Sima Yi will be engaged with Wu； and I may once more march to Qishan and attempt Capital Changan。〃
Wherefore the Chair of the Secretariat； Chen Zhen； was sent with presents of horses； a jeweled belt； gold and pearls； and precious things into the South Land to congratulate the Ruler of Wu on his newly assumed dignity。 And the presents were accepted； and the bearer thereof honored and allowed to return。
When this was all over； Sun Quan called in Lu Xun and asked his opinion about the concerted attack on Wei。 Lu Xun saw through the scheme at once。
〃We owe this to Zhuge Liang's fear of Sima Yi；〃 said he。 〃However； we must consent since Shu asks it。 We will make a show of raising an army and in a measure support them。 When Zhuge Liang has actually attacked Wei； we will make for the Middle Land ourselves。〃
Orders went forth for enlisting and training Jingzhou soldiers ready for an expedition to start presently。
When Chen Zhen returned to Hanzhong and reported to the Prime Minister； Zhuge Liang was still worried that he could not advanced hastily by the road through Chencang。 So he sent scouts out first。
Soon the scouts brought the news back： 〃The defender of the city； Hao Zhao； is being very ill。〃
〃That means success for me；〃 cried he； cheering。
He called in Wei Yan and Jiang Wei； and said； 〃Take five thousand troops and hasten to Chencang。 If you see a blaze； then attack。〃
They could hardly believe what the order was meant； and came again to see their chief and asked the exact date of departure。
Replied Zhuge Liang； 〃In three days you should be ready to march。 Do not e to take leave of me； but set out as soon as possible。〃
After they had left his tent； he summoned Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and gave them secret instructions。
Now when Guo Huai heard that mander Hao Zhao of Chencang was ill； he and Zhang He talked over the matter。
Guo Huai said； 〃Hao Zhao is very ill。 You had better go and relieve him。 I will report to the capital what we have done that they may arrange。〃
So Zhang He started with his three thousand troops to relieve the sick man。
Hao Zhao was indeed at the point of death； and suddenly they told him that the army of Shu had reached the walls。 Hao Zhao roused himself and bade them go on the ramparts。 But then fire broke out at each gate； a panic spread in the city； and the noise of the confusion startled the dying man so that he passed away just as the troops of Shu were bursting in。
When Wei Yan and Jiang Wei reached the walls； they were perplexed to find no sign of life。 No flags were flying and no watchmen struck the hours。 They delayed their attack for a time。 Then they heard a bomb； and suddenly the wall was thick with flags； and there appeared the well…known figure of the minister。
〃You have e too late；〃 cried Zhuge Liang。
Both dropped out of the saddle and prostrated themselves。
〃Really； you are supernatural； O Prime Minister！〃 they cried。
They entered the city； and then he explained to them； saying； 〃I heard the news that Hao Zhao was seriously sick； so I sent you with the deadline of three days as a decoy to calm the people of this city。 Then I hid myself in the ranks of another force under Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； which came to Chencang by double marches。 Also； I had sent spies into the city to start the fires and throw the defenders into confusion。 An army without a leader could never fight； and I could take the city easily。 This is an instance of the rule of war： 'Do the unexpected； attack the unprepared。'〃
They bowed。 In miseration Zhuge Liang sent all the family of Hao Zhao； and his coffin； over to Wei； thus showing his sense of the dead man's loyalty。
Turning once more to Wei Yan and Jiang Wei； he said； 〃But do not divest yourself of your armor。 Go and attack San Pass and drive away the guards while they are in a state of surprise。 If you delay； Wei will have sent reinforcements。〃
They went。 Surely enough the capture of San Pass was easy as the Wei soldiers scattered。 But when they went up to look around； they saw a great cloud of dust moving toward them。 The Wei reinforcements were already near。
They remarked to each other； 〃The Prime Minister's foresight was superhuman。〃
When they had looked a little longer； they saw the leader of the Wei army then approaching was Zhang He。
They then divided their soldiers to hold the approaches。 When Zhang He saw that all was prepared； he retired。 Wei Yan followed and fought a battle； defeating Zhang He heavily。
Wei Yan sent to report his success； but Zhuge Liang had already left Chencang and had gone into the Xie Valley to capture the county of Jianwei。 Other armies from Shu followed。 Moreover； the Latter Ruler sent Chen Shi to assist in the campaign。 Zhuge Liang then marched his main force to Qishan and there made a camp。 Then he called an assembly of officers。
〃Twice have I gone out by Qishan without success； but at last I am here。 I think Wei will resume the former battle ground and oppose us。 If so； they will assume that I shall attack Yongcheng and Meicheng and send armies to defend them。 But I see Yinping and Wudu are connected with Hanzhong。 If I can win these； I can drive a wedge into the Wei force。 Who will go to take these places？〃
Jiang Wei and Wang Ping offered themselves。 The former was sent with ten thousand troops to capture Wudu； the latter； with an equal force； went to Yinping。
Zhang He went back to Changan and saw Guo Huai and Sun Li； to whom he said； 〃Chencang is lost； Hao Zhao is dead； and San Pass is taken。 Zhuge Liang is again at Qishan； and thence has sent out two armies。〃
Guo Huai was frightened； saying； 〃In that case； Yongcheng and Meicheng are in danger。〃
Leaving Zhang He to guard Changan； Guo Huai sent Sun Li to Yongcheng； and he himself set out at once for Meicheng。 He sent an urgent report to Luoyang。
At Wei's next court the Emperor was informed of all the misfortunes in the west： 〃Chencange has fallen； and Hao Zhao has died。 Zhuge Liang has captured San Pass。 He is camping at Qishan and is planning to invade Wei。〃
Cao Rui was alarmed。
Just then Man Chong reported； 〃Sun Quan has declared himself Emperor； and Lu Xun is drilling his army in Wuchang。 An invasion from the east can be expected soon。〃
Cao Rui was embarrassed and frightened。 Cao Zhen； being ill； could not be consulted； and Sima Yi was called。 He was ready with a proposal。
〃In my humble opinion； Wu will not attack us；〃 said Sima Yi。
〃What makes you think so？〃 asked the Ruler of Wei。
〃Because Zhuge Liang still resents； and wishes to avenge； the event at Xiaoting。 He never ceases to desire to absorb Wu。 His only fear is that we may swoop down upon Shu。 That is why there is an alliance with Wu。 Lu Xun knows it also quite well； and he is only making a show of raising an army as they arranged。 The truth is he is sitting on the fence。 Hence Your Majesty may disregard the menace on the east； and only protect yourself against Shu。〃
〃Your insight is very profound；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。
Sima Yi was created mander…in…Chief of all the forces in the west； and the Ruler of Wei directed a courtier to go to Cao Zhen for the seal。
〃I would rather go myself；〃 said Sima Yi。
So Sima Yi left the audience and went to the palace of Cao Zhen； where presently he saw the invalid。 First he asked after his health and then gradually opened his errand。
〃Shu and Wu have made an alliance to invade Wei and share its domains； and Zhuge Liang is at Qishan the third time。 Have you heard； Illustrious Sir？〃
〃My people have kept back all news as I am ill；〃 said he； startled。 〃But if this is true； the country is in danger。 Why have they not made you mander…in…Chief to stop this invasion？〃
〃I am unequal to the post；〃 said Sima Yi。
〃Bring the seal and give it to him；〃 said Cao Zhen to his attendants。
〃You are anxious on my account。 Really I am only e to lend you an arm。 I dare not accept the seal。〃
Cao Zhen started up； saying； 〃If you do not take it； I shall have to go to see the Emperor； ill as I am。 The Middle Land is in danger。〃
〃Really the Emperor has already shown his kindness； but I dare not accept his offer。〃
〃If you have been appointed； then Shu will be driven off。〃
Thrice Sima Yi declined the seal； but eventually he received it into his hands as he knew Cao Zhen was sincere。 Then he took leave of the Ruler of Wei and marched to Changan。
The seal of office changes hands；
Two armies now one force bee。
Sima Yi's success or failure will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 99 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Zhuge Liang Defeats The Wei Army；
Sima Yi Invades The West River Land。
The fourth month of Beginning Prosperity； seventh year （AD 229）； found Zhuge Liang camped at Qishan in three camps； waiting to attack Wei。
When Sima Yi reached Changan； the officer in mand； Zhang He； told him all that had happened。 He gave Zhang He the post of Leader of the Van； with Dai Ling as his Assistant General